Bob Ainsworth: The following statement replaces information given in the Ministry of Defence previous departmental expenditure limits (DEL) written ministerial statement on 23 February 2010, Official Report, columns 29-30WS.
	Subject to parliamentary approval of the necessary supplementary estimate, the DEL will be increased by £284,565,000, voted and non-voted, from £39,596,111,000 to £39,880,676,000. Within the DEL change, the impact on resources and capital are as set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Change New DEL 
			  Voted Non-Voted Voted Non-voted Total 
			 Resource -33,261 222,396 38,660,976 439,112 39,100,088 
			 Of which:  Administration  Budget 211 - 2,237,948 - 2,237,948 
			 Near-cash in RDEL -100,650 250,355 26,277,470 668,551 26,946,021 
			 Capital 178,695 - 9,227,484 851 9,228,335 
			 Depreciation(*) -83,265  -8,438,227 -9,520 -8,447,747 
			 Total 62,169 222,396 39,450,233 430,443 39,880,676 
			 (*)Depreciation, which forms part of Resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. 
		
	
	The changes to the resource and capital elements of the DEL arise from:
	Voted Resource DEL decrease £33,261,000:
	RfRl:
	(1) An increase of £100,000,000 Direct Resource near cash relief in RfRl, as agreed with Treasury from the Reserve.
	(2) Resource transfers into RfRl from the Cabinet Office being their contribution to MOD security costs of £6,000,000 transfers from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office of £6,695,000 and £1,965,000 for the Counter Narcotics Ground Force, and a transfer of £1,002,000 from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office being their contribution to the Information Assurance Technical Programme.
	(3) A transfer of £211,000 from the Cabinet Office being their contribution to the Parliamentary Counsel cost (an increase in Administration Voted DEL).
	(4) A net decrease in the cash release of provisions of £17,324,000 charged to RDEL (with a corresponding increase in the provision charge scored in AME) to reflect the latest forecast of outturn.
	(5) To re-allocate the net resource impact of £35,000,000 for employee benefits under IFRS trigger point 3 from AME to Resource DEL, reflecting the revised control framework for this item.
	(6) To reflect the revised, and reduced, resource impact assessment of disclosing three PFI contracts as finance leases under IAS 17, being a credit of £21,000,000.
	(7) To reflect the revised resource impact resulting from a reduced service charge credit relating to Annington Homes of £18,000,000.
	(8) To reflect the non cash resource impact, in the amount of £26,000,000, of implementing IFRS 17 on three PFI off balance sheet contracts now re-assessed as finance leases.
	(9) To reflect the IFRS reduced near cash service charge of £178,000,000 impact of disclosing IFRIC 12 PFI assets on MOD's balance sheet.
	(10) To increase Non-Budget Grants in Aid (Non Voted) for the Council of Reserve Forces and Cadets Association (RFCA) of £4,199,000 in the Central Top Level Budget (TLB) and £4,943,000 in Land TLB; £210,000 for the Marine and Sea Cadets Society by reducing Resource DEL current costs and increasing Non-Budget Grants in Aid with no overall impact on resource.
	(11) To increase non budget funding by £10,991,000 from within Resource DEL to reflect the latest forecast of outturn for the Navy Command, Land Forces, and Central TLBs.
	(12) To revise sub-head provisions to reflect Resource and Capital revisions in allocations between TLB Holders to match required defence outputs, with no overall impact on DEL.
	RfR2:
	(1) A net resource increase of £13,430,000 in non cash depreciation and cost of capital costs to reflect the latest forecast cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan.
	(2) A transfer in of £1,832,000 from the Department for International Development (DflD) being their contribution to the Global Pool (RfR2).
	(3) To reflect a technical disclosure change by moving £6,729,000 from Voted to Non-Voted expenditure, relating to a transfer made to DflD in Winter Supplementary Estimates (WSE), with no overall impact on DEL.
	Non-Voted Resource DEL increase £222,396,000:
	RfRl:
	(1) A net increase in the cash release of provisions of £17,324,000 charged to Non Voted RDEL (with a corresponding increase in the provision charge scored in AME) to reflect the latest forecast of outturn.
	(2) To reflect the IFRS reduced near cash service charge of £178,000,000 impact of disclosing IFRIC 12 PFI assets on MOD's balance sheet being a charge to Non Voted resource.
	(3) To reflect the Non-Voted impact of an increase in Non-Budget Grants in Aid (Non Voted) for the Council of RFC A of £4,199,000 in the Central TLB and £4,943,000 in Land TLB; £210,000 for the Marine and Sea Cadets Society by reducing Resource DEL current costs and increasing Non Budget Grants in Aid with no overall impact on resource.
	(4) To reflect the Non-Voted impact of an increase in Non-Budget funding by £10,991,000 from within Resource DEL to reflect the latest forecast of outturn for the Navy Command, Land Forces and Central TLBs.
	RfR2:
	(1) To reflect a technical disclosure change by moving £6,729,000 from Voted to Non-Voted expenditure, relating to a transfer made to DflD in WSE, with no overall impact on DEL.
	Voted Capital DEL Increase: £178,695,000:
	RfRl:
	(1) A further increase in Fiscal Capital Resource of £5,000,000 to reflect Treasury reserve relief for lower capital receipts in Northern Ireland than originally forecasted.
	(2) To reflect the capital impact of implementing IFRS 17 on three PFI off balance sheet contracts now re-assessed as Finance Leases of £13,000,000.
	RfR2:
	(1) To request a net increase in Capital DEL of £160,695,000 to reflect the latest forecast cost of operations in Iraq and Afghanistan funded from the reserve.
	The changes to Resource DEL and Capital DEL will lead to an increased net cash requirement of £935,052,000.

Chris Bryant: The General Affairs Council and Foreign Affairs Council will be held on 22 March in Brussels. My right hon. Friend the Foreign Secretary will represent the UK.
	The agenda items are as follows:
	Foreign Affairs Council (fac)
	Haiti
	Ministers will discuss the EU's response to Haiti and seek to agree a common position for the global donors' conference in New York on 31 March. This is likely to include: a common aggregated figure for EU commitment for reconstruction; a long-term plan for economic growth and development; and a commitment to joint programming to enhance aid effectiveness. Ministers will also discuss the creation of an "EU House" in Haiti to enhance co-ordination and represent EU donors not present on the ground. They may also discuss plans for further work on the EU's emergency response capability.
	Chile
	We expect Ministers to be updated on the latest developments following the tragic earthquake on Saturday 27 February. The UK has responded to specific requests made by the Chilean Government and provided £250,000 to the Red Cross and delivered 600 tents to World Vision through DFID and the MOD. With EU partners, the UK has provided €3 million for the relief effort through European Commission Humanitarian Aid.
	Afghanistan/Pakistan
	Ministers will discuss the work of the new EU Representative for Afghanistan, Vygaudas Ušackas, focusing on his immediate priorities. These include implementation of the EU action plan, follow-up to the London conference and preparations for the Kabul conference. The upcoming EU-Pakistan summit on 21 April may also be discussed.
	Follow-up to Gymnich
	Ministers will continue their discussions on how the EU's post-Lisbon structures can deliver more coherent, co-ordinated and effective EU actins, including in its relations with emerging powers. Ongoing planning for the European External Action Service may also be discussed under this item.
	Any Other Business: Belarus/Ukraine/Moldova
	Under AOB, Ministers are likely to discuss Belarus's treatment of its Polish minority, internal developments in Moldova and visa issues in relation to Ukraine and Moldova.
	Middle East
	Over lunch, Ministers will review recent developments on the MEPP with Quartet Representative, Tony Blair. Baroness Ashton is expected to brief on her visit to the region this week, and the Quartet meeting in Moscow on 19 March. Ministers are likely to agree an EU declaration for the EU/Israel Association Council, which will take place in Brussels on 23 March.
	General Affairs Council (GAC)
	The GAC will present and discuss the draft Council conclusions for the spring European Council on the 25 and 26 March including points on EU2020 and climate change. On EU2020, we will seek to make progress on the agreement of a comprehensive European economic strategy that delivers strong, sustainable and balanced growth. On climate change, we will seek to ensure continued international focus on the goal of a legally binding treaty.

Mike O'Brien: The Department of Health's overall departmental expenditure limit (DEL) is unchanged from the written statement made on 23 February 2010, Official Report, column 40WS, at £105,564,260,000, the administration cost limit is unchanged at £218,191,000. The impact on resource and capital is set out in the following table:
	
		
			  Change New DEL 
			  Voted£m Non-voted£m Voted£m Non-voted£m Total£m 
			 Department of Health  
			 Resource DEL, of which  -100.000 101,795.986 -1,607.778 100,188.208 
			 Administration Budget (*)   218.191 - 218.191 
			 Near-cash in Resource DEL  -100.000 96,935.132 -308.409 96,626.723 
			 Capital DEL  100.000 2,650.151 2,725.901 5,376.052 
			 Total Department of Health DEL   104,446.137 1,118.123 105,564.260 
			 Depreciation (**)   -902.961 -177.166 -1,080.127 
			 Total Department of Health spending (after adjustment)   103,543.176 940.957 104,484.133 
			 (*)The total of "administration budget" and "Near cash in Resource DEL" figures may well be greater that the total resource DEL, due to definitions overlapping. (**)Depreciation, which forms part of resource DEL, is excluded from the total DEL since the capital DEL includes capital spending and to include depreciation of those assets would lead to double counting. 
		
	
	The change results from a transfer from the revenue budget to the capital budget of £100,000,000 to meet existing commitments on pandemic flu.